Quote Originally Posted by Chef View Post
i think you are right. i meant doing whatever houston just did with harden, unless it is too late for that. the other team could get him on a qualifying offer then be able to offer him the 5 year deal.
Yeah I mean any team can trade for Hendo and they'd have his bird rights, so even if they don't immediately sign him to an extension (not possible since that deadline has passed) they are still the only team capable of signing him to a QO.

Trading for Hendo (and Harden) at the beginning of the season is a safer trade since you can go ahead and lock them up to an extension, but now you run the risk of him being unhappy and not signing a QO... which means Hendo's value is lower now than it would've been.